Well is ah lucky thing I never bad talk JahG with you
Aperture would have helped you a great deal with light and focus.
Uhmm next time try, F9-10, metering matrix using Aperture. With matrix metering it measures the brightness and it determines the exposure, light distribution, color and composition. I try my best not to use S without a tripod or remote and I don't consider myself a nervous person.
I'll see if I can find a snap using matrix so you can see what i'm speaking about.
If you intentions was to get a blurry background, by all means forget what I saying.